Author: News Desk

United Kingdom: The University of Edinburgh in Scotland has handed over the skulls of four Paiwan warriors to Taiwanese Indigenous leaders. According to the University, the repatriation is the first of its kind for Taiwan and comes as Edinburgh and similar institutions across Europe confront their colonial past. “This repatriation is the culmination of international cooperation between the university and the Taiwanese community,” Professor Tom Gillingwater, chief of anatomy at the university, said in a statement. “We are committed to addressing our colonial legacy, and this repatriation is the latest action we have taken in line with our longstanding policy…

Germany: Archaeologists in Germany have discovered a centuries-old skeleton with a metal prosthetic hand to replace four missing fingers. The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation stated that archaeologists used carbon dating to find that the man died some time between 1450 and 1620, aged between 30 and 50 years old, making the prosthetic hand potentially almost 600 years old. “The fingers on the man’s left hand appear to have been amputated, and the remaining part of the hand was surrounded in a hollowed-out case wrought from iron and other metal, revealing the advanced state of medicine at the time,”…

United States: The United States administration has stated that releasing Hamas captives will require a “very significant pause” in the war in Gaza. “It is something that is under very serious and active discussion. But there is no agreement as of yet to actually get this done,” a senior Biden administration official commented. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas took more than 240 people captive during its October 7 attacks. The US official noted that Washington was “doing everything we possibly can” to get the captives out of Gaza, including “indirect engagement.” “We’re hopeful and doing everything we possibly can to…

Switzerland: A new study has suggested that increased mobile phone use may be linked to low sperm concentration and total sperm count (TSC). The study was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. The researchers surveyed 5,605 Swiss men aged 18–22 across six centres in the country. They also asked questions regarding their health and lifestyle and their parents’ preconception period. The men were asked about their phone usage time and where they kept their mobile when they didn’t use it. 2,866 Swiss men aged 18–20 were examined for genital anatomy, testicular volume, weight, and height, and semen samples were…

North Korea: North Korea has announced that it is closing several diplomatic missions abroad over international sanctions that disrupt the country’s ability to finance its offices overseas. The closures have already affected Spain, Hong Kong, Angola, and Uganda. According to reports, Pyongyang may close as many as 10 missions and embassies in total, which amounts to 20 percent of its current diplomatic presence. “We are carrying out operations to withdraw and establish diplomatic missions in accordance with changing global environments and national foreign policy,” a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement. The statement also noted that “while…

India: The Indian capital, Delhi, has shut down all primary schools for two days due to worsening levels of air pollution. According to authorities, air quality in the city dropped to severe levels for the first time this season. Scientists stated that “it is expected to deteriorate further in the next two weeks.” Mr. Gopal Rai, the environment minister of Delhi, has called an emergency meeting to review the situation in the capital, which is one of the world’s most polluted cities. Delhi’s air turns especially toxic in winter due to several factors, including the burning of crop remains by…

London, UK: The X and Tesla CEO, Mr. Elon Musk, and Britain’s Prime Minister, Mr. Rishi Sunak, have discussed Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) risks and advantages following a world-first AI summit at Bletchley Park in the UK. “AI will be a force for good, most likely. But the probability of it going bad is not zero percent,” Mr. Musk said. The Tesla CEO predicted that in the future, no jobs would be needed. Mr. Musk warned that everybody should be concerned about humanoid robots that can follow people anywhere. The billionaire quoted that,”it’s something we should be quite concerned about. If…

Switzerland: United Nations experts have demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, noting that time was running out for the Palestinian people, who are at “grave risk of genocide”. According to reports, the continuing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for attacks by Hamas gunmen in southern Israel on October 7 has killed more than 9,000 people. “We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at grave risk of genocide. We demand a humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that aid reaches those who need it the most,” the group of experts, made up of seven UN special rapporteurs, said…

London, UK: Storm Ciarán has battered parts of south-west England with winds of 80mph and very heavy rain. The United Kingdom’s national weather service (MET Office) has been updating Amber weather warnings across southern England. Hundreds of schools closed, and roads, flights, bus services, and rail routes have been disrupted. The UK Environment Agency had issued 65 flood warnings and 156 flood alerts for England. Natural Resources Wales cautioned that river levels in the far southwest could reach historic highs. Additionally, approximately 10,000 homes in southwest England were experiencing power outages. A heavy storm hit the Channel Islands on November…

United States: The United States President Mr. Joe Biden has stated that there should be a humanitarian “pause” to Israel’s war in Gaza. The statement comes as the country presses to evacuate all Americans trapped in the besieged Palestinian enclave. “I think we need a pause,” Mr. Biden said during a campaign speech after he was interrupted by a protester who urged for an immediate ceasefire. “By the word ‘pause,’ Mr. Biden meant it was time to release the prisoners from Hamas, the group that rules Gaza,” the White House later clarified. The US President’s comments are widely analyzed as…